After its victory over Loyola Marymount University on Sunday, Auburn's softball team will head to Orlando, Fla., this weekend for the Citrus Classic with a perfect 14-0 record.
The Citrus Classic is a round-robin tournament, and Auburn will face Syracuse, Michigan, North Carolina, Penn State and UCLA.
"We are going to be challenged this weekend and it will be a test of how we respond to that," said coach Tina Deese. "We could be our own worst enemy or our own best friend."
Freshman outfielder Branndi Melero has been an offensive leader with a .382 batting average.
"I just need to keep my focus out there and continue to be a team player," Melero said.
She attributes much of the team's success to the strong bond between the players.
"We all have a lot of confidence in each other and that is a big aspect of our success so far this season," Melero said. "Our main goal this weekend is to come up strong and to continue playing our game."
Senior pitcher Jenee Loree has played a vital role this season on the mound. She has a 1.62 earned run average to go along with a 5-0 start, and her recent performances have earned her SEC Pitcher of the Week honors.
"It feels great to be recognized, but it also says a lot about my team," Loree said. "When I go out there, I am confident that my teammates have my back."
Loree said it has been great to pitch because the offense is doing so well.
"In years past we have had to battle just to get a few runs on the board," Loree said. "Right now we have had the offense supporting us with a lot of early leads."
Loree said she is not so much a strikeout pitcher, but gets a lot of groundball outs with the help of her teammates.
"I am very excited for Jenee and I think her numbers speak for themselves," Deese said. "She has done so well for us this season, and I think it is building confidence for the games still to come."
Deese said she is pleased with the approach the team has taken all year.
"The group we have right now has done things like conditioning and weight training with such a positive attitude," Deese said. "I think that says a lot about the leadership the team has."
The Tigers will start off the weekend Friday against Syracuse at 3:45 p.m.
"We firmly believe that we are as good as anybody, and our goal is to begin our SEC schedule as an unbeaten team," Loree said. "The tournament this weekend is a great opportunity for us to show up and show out."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
